Photon-, electron-, and proton-induced isomerization behavior of ferrocenylazobenzenes.
3-, 4-, and 2-ferrocenylazobenzenes, 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and several derivatives of 1 were synthesized, and their photoisomerization behaviors were examined. The molecular structures of 1 and its derivatives, 2-chloro-5-ferrocenylazobenzene (5) and 3-ferrocenyl-4'-hydroxylazobenzene (11), were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. 3-Ferrocenyl compound 1 undergoes reversible trans-to-cis isomerization with a single green light source and the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox change. 4- and 2-Ferrocenyl compounds, 2 and 3, also respond to green light in addition to UV light, exciting the pi-pi* transition, but the cis molar ratio in the photostationary state (PSS) is lower than that of 1. The response to green light in 2 and 3 is caused by the MLCT (from Fe d orbital to azo pi* orbital) band excitation, while the character of the MLCT band, as estimated by time-dependent density functional theory calculations, differs between 1 and 2. The oxidized form of 2 undergoes facile cis-to-trans thermal isomerization. Both 1 and 2 undergo facile protonation and show proton-catalyzed cis-to-trans isomerization. Among the derivatives of 1, 2-chloro-5-ferrocenylazobenzene (5) exhibits the highest cis molar ratio (47%) in the PSS of green light irradiation.


Supervoxel-based statistical analysis of diffusion tensor imaging in schizotypal personality disorder.
To study white matter changes in schizotypal personality disorder (SPD), we developed a new statistical analysis method based on supervoxels for diffusion tensor imaging. Twenty patients with SPD and eighteen healthy controls were recruited from a pool of 3000 first-year university undergraduates, and underwent MRI using a 3T scanner. Diffusion tensors were first normalized into ICBM-152 space followed by a supervoxel segmentation based on graph clustering to segment white matter tensors into diffusion homogeneous supervoxels. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values in supervoxels were compared between SPD and healthy controls using permutation test. Suprathreshold cluster size test was used to correct multiple comparison. At last, fibers with significant differences were extracted from supervoxel clusters with significance level P < 0.05. Results showed that FA values in genu of corpus callosum were significantly reduced (P = 0.012) in patients with SPD (FA = 0.565) compared with healthy controls (FA = 0.593). In summary, this study proposed a novel supervoxel segmentation method for diffusion tensor imaging using graph-based clustering, and extended permutation test and suprathreshold cluster size test to supervoxels for detection of white matter changes.


Medical Claims According to Wellness Program Participation for a Large Insurance Company in the United States.
The aim of this study was to identify the number and total cost of medical claims for members of the Municipalities, Colleges, Schools Insurance Group by participation status in a comprehensive incentive-based wellness program. Analyses are based on 6810 members during 2013 to 2016. The wellness program began in 2014. Approximately 32.5% women and 22.9% men (P < 0.0001) participated in the wellness program. In 2013, those who participated in 2014 to 2016 filed a higher number of medical claims (P = 0.0004), but their total cost of claims was similar to those who did not participate in 2014 to 2016. By 2016, participants in the wellness program on average filed 3.6 (P = 0.0102) fewer claims and experienced $1346 (P = 0.0011) lower total cost of claims. Wellness program participation was associated with a lower number and total cost of medical claims.


Prostaglandin E2 modulation of p59fyn tyrosine kinase in T lymphocytes during sepsis.
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has been implicated in the suppression of T cell IL-2 production and proliferation during burn and sepsis. The present study evaluated the potential intracellular mechanism of suppressed T cell responses by assessing the activation of p59fyn kinase in T cells from septic rats as well as the T cells incubated with PGE2. p59fyn is known to regulate T cell functions. Sepsis was induced in rats by implanting fecal pellets containing Escherichia coli (150 CFU) and Bacteroides fragilis (10(4) CFU) into the abdominal cavity. For the assessment of PGE2 role in sepsis, a group of septic rats were treated with indomethacin, which inhibits endogenous PGE2 synthesis. As assessed by immunoblotting or in vitro kinase assay, a more than 40% inhibition of p59fyn phosphorylation and kinase activity was observed in septic rat T cells compared with the T cells from sterile or control rats. A similar inhibition in p59fyn phosphorylation and kinase activity was observed in PGE2-treated T cells compared with the T cells incubated in the absence of PGE2. The septic-related suppression in p59fyn phosphorylation and kinase activity in T cells was prevented in rats treated with indomethacin. We observed that the inhibition in p59fyn activation in septic or PGE2-treated T cells was due primarily to a suppression in p59fyn phosphorylation and not due to alterations in p59fyn protein expression. These findings suggest that PGE2 released during sepsis could contribute to the sepsis-related suppression in T cell proliferation by attenuating p59fyn phosphorylation and its kinase activity.


NOD2-mediated innate immune signaling regulates the eicosanoids in atherosclerosis.
The activity of eicosanoid pathways is critical to the inflammatory and immune responses that are associated with the progression of atherosclerosis. Yet, the signals that regulate these pathways are poorly understood. Here, we address whether the innate immune signals of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein (NOD) 2 affect eicosanoids metabolism in atherosclerosis. Analysis of human carotid plaques revealed that NOD2 was abundantly expressed at both mRNA and protein levels by endothelial cells and macrophages. Stimulation of NOD2 in ex vivo-cultured carotid plaques by muramyl dipeptide, an extrinsic ligand of NOD2, led to release of prostaglandin E2, upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1, and to downregulation of cyclooxygenase-1. NOD2 was coexpressed with cyclooxygenase-2 in lesional macrophages. NOD2-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression in macrophages was dependent on p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and was mediated by interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. Selective lipidomic analysis of the eicosanoids released by the carotid plaques characterized the metabolites of 12-, 5-, and 15-lipoxygenase as the predominant eicosanoids that were produced by the atherosclerotic lesion in the absence of additional stimuli. Unlike the prostaglandin E2 pathway, metabolic activity of the lipoxygenase pathways was not altered on the short-term activation of NOD2 in carotid plaques. These results suggest that atherosclerosis may involve enhanced NOD2-mediated innate immunity. Activation of NOD2 preferentially upregulates the prostaglandin E2 pathway. Nevertheless, lipoxygenase pathways, such as 12-lipoxygenase, predominate the basal synthesis and metabolism of eicosanoids in atherosclerotic plaques. These findings provide new insights into the regulation of eicosanoids in atherosclerosis.


2-(Pyridinium-1-yl)-1,1-bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)ethan-1-ide: A Practical Reagent for Synthesis of Strongly Acidic 1,1-Bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)alkanes.
On mixing (Rf SO2 )2 CH2 (Rf =perfluoroalkyl), paraformaldehyde, and substituted pyridines, a three-component reaction proceeded smoothly to give unusual zwitterions bearing both pyridinium and stabilized carbanion moieties in good to excellent yields. Of these, 2-fluoropyridinium derivatives rapidly dissociated in acetonitrile to give equilibrium mixtures of the zwitterions and (Rf SO2 )2 C=CH2 /2-fluoropyridine, as confirmed by detailed variable-temperature NMR studies. The dynamic behavior of such 2-fluoropyridinium compounds allows them to be used as shelf-stable, easy-to-handle sources of (Rf SO2 )2 C=CH2 . With these reagents, strongly acidic carbon acids (Rf SO2 )2 CHR were synthesized, which served as a new type of acid catalysts. Moreover, C-C bond-forming reactions with a ketene silyl acetal proceeded efficiently with Tf2 C=CH2 generated in situ.


CsA improves the trophoblasts invasiveness through strengthening the cross-talk of trophoblasts and decidual stromal cells mediated by CXCL12 and CD82 in early pregnancy.
Our previous work has demonstrated that cyclosporin A (CsA) up-regulates but CD82 down-regulates the invasiveness of human trophoblasts. In the present study, we further investigated whether CsA can modulate the trophoblasts invasion through regulating the expression of CD82 in decidual stromal cells (DSCs). A co-culture model was established to investigate the effect of CsA on trophoblasts invasiveness. In-cell Western was performed to evaluate the expression of CD82, p53, β-catenin and the phosphorylation level of NF-κB p50 in DSCs. The secretion of CXCL12 of trophoblasts and DSCs was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found that CsA could not directly change the expression of CD82 in DSCs, but the CsA-treated trophoblasts significantly enhanced CD82 expression, NF-κB p50 phosphorylation and p53 expression, and decreased β-catenin expression in DSCs, and these effects could be abolished by anti-CXCL12 or CXCR4 neutralizing antibody. In addition, the invasiveness of trophoblast cells was markedly decreased after blocking CXCR4 of trophoblasts. Interestingly, when DSCs were pretreated with anti-CXCR4 neutralizing antibody, the invasiveness of trophoblast cells was enhanced in the coculture unit, and blocking CXCR4 on DSCs could reverse the decrease of trophoblasts invasiveness induced by CD82. Moreover, CsA further amplified these effects mediated by CXCL12 and CD82. Our results suggest that CsA not only promotes the trophoblasts invasiveness through stimulating the secretion of CXCL12, but also limits the invasiveness of trophoblasts by indirectly up-regulating the expression CD82. Therefore, CsA may contribute to the appropriate invasiveness of trophoblasts via strengthening the crosstalk between trophoblasts and DSCs.


Renal transplant blood flow evaluation by ultrasonic duplex scanning.
The transplant blood flow was measured renal transplantation by ultrasonic duplex scanner composed of pulsed Doppler flowmeter and real-time B-mode linear scanner in 32 patients. The blood flow information could be obtained from anywhere of interest within the renal transplant. Then blood flow in 3 regions including renal hilum, central echoes and renal parenchyma were measured. The parenchymal peripheral blood flow was not always similar to the hilar central blood flow. Parenchymal blood flow was the most correlated with graft function and decreased remarkably during acute rejection episode. This method enabled detection of occurrence of acute rejection in the course of post-cadaver transplant ATN. Prolongation of delta t (acceleration time) in Doppler spectrogram from parenchyma was also reliable evidence for the deterioration of graft function. Ultrasonic duplex scanning is a useful method in managing post-transplantation patients because intrarenal hemodynamics can be evaluated by this method.


Cryptotrichosporon anacardii gen. nov., sp. nov., a new trichosporonoid capsulate basidiomycetous yeast from Nigeria that is able to form melanin on niger seed agar.
Five yeast isolates obtained from cashew tree flowers in Nigeria resembled Cryptococcus neoformans phenotypically by producing brown pigmented colonies on niger seed agar, expressing a capsule, and being able to grow at 37 degrees C. However, rRNA gene sequences, including the 18S rRNA gene, the D1/D2 domains of the 26S rRNA gene and the ITS1+2 regions, suggested that these yeasts form a basal lineage within the Trichosporonales (Tremellomycetidae, Hymenomycetes, Basidiomycota, Fungi). Since the isolates could not be identified with any known genus and species within the Trichosporonales, we describe them as Cryptotrichosporon anacardii gen. et sp. nov. with CBS 9551(T) (=NRRL Y-27671) as the type strain. The taxonomic conflict between phenetic and molecular classification schemes within this group of fungi is discussed, and is resolved in favor of the latter.


Thrombopoietin does not induce lineage-restricted commitment of Mpl-R expressing pluripotent progenitors but permits their complete erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation.
In this study, we examined the in vitro and in vivo effects of forced expression of Mpl-R (the thrombopoietin receptor) on the progeny of murine hematopoietic stem cells. Bone marrow cells from 5-FU-treated mice were transduced with retroviral vectors containing the human Mpl-R cDNA, or the neomycine gene as a control. After 7 days cocultivation on virus-producer cells, GpE86-Mpl-R or Gp86-Neo, the types of hematopoietic progenitor cells responding to thrombopoietin (TPO) were studied by clonogenic assays. Mpl-R-infected cells gave rise to CFU-GEMM, BFU-E, CFU-MK, but not CFU-GM while Neo-infected cells produced only megakaryocytic colonies. In addition, when nonadherent cells from GpE86-Mpl-R cocultures were grown with TPO as the only stimulus for 7 days, a marked expansion of CFU-GEMM, BFU-E, and CFU-MK was observed, while no change in CFU-GM number was seen. Erythroid and megakaryocytic maturation occurred in the presence of TPO while a block in granulocytic differentiation was observed at the myeloblast stage. The direct effects of TPO on Mpl-R-transduced progenitor cells were demonstrated by single cell cloning experiments. To analyze the effects of the constitutive expression of Mpl-R on the determination of multipotent progenitors (CFU-S) and long-term repopulating stem cells, Mpl-R- or Neo-infected cells were injected into lethally irradiated recipient mice. No difference was seen in (1) the number of committed progenitor cells contained in individual CFU-S12 whether colonies arose from noninfected or Mpl-R-infected CFU-S; (2) the mean numbers of progenitor cells per leg or spleen of mice reconstituted with Mpl-R- or Neo-infected cells, 1 or 7 months after the graft; and (3) the blood parameters of the two groups of animals, with the exception of a 50% reduction in circulating platelet counts after 7 months in mice repopulated with Mpl-R-infected bone marrow cells. These results indicate that retrovirus-mediated expression of Mpl-R in murine stem cells does not modify their ability to reconstitute all myeloid lineages of differentiation and does not result in a preferential commitment toward the megakaryocytic lineage.


Normative data for the Symbol Digit Substitution Task.
Administered three forms of a Symbol-Digit Substitution task to normals, 16 to over 80 years of age, to schizophrenic and other hospitalized groups. Their data are presented for normative purposes. The three forms vary in difficulty and provide a measure of visual information processing ability, Clinical and research implications of the data are discussed.


Selection on alleles affecting human longevity and late-life disease: the example of apolipoprotein E.
It is often claimed that genes affecting health in old age, such as cardiovascular and Alzheimer diseases, are beyond the reach of natural selection. We show in a simulation study based on known genetic (apolipoprotein E) and non-genetic risk factors (gender, diet, smoking, alcohol, exercise) that, because there is a statistical distribution of ages at which these genes exert their influence on morbidity and mortality, the effects of selection are in fact non-negligible. A gradual increase with each generation of the epsilon2 and epsilon3 alleles of the gene at the expense of the epsilon4 allele was predicted from the model. The epsilon2 allele frequency was found to increase slightly more rapidly than that for epsilon3, although there was no statistically significant difference between the two. Our result may explain the recent evolutionary history of the epsilon 2, 3 and 4 alleles of the apolipoprotein E gene and has wider relevance for genes affecting human longevity.


Potential reduced exposure products (PREPs) for smokeless tobacco users: clinical evaluation methodology.
Several potential reduced exposure products (PREPs) for smokeless tobacco (SLT) users are marketed in the United States, though their effects are largely unknown. These products include some that are low in tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNs), like Stonewall, a pressed tobacco tablet, and General snus, a moist snuff product produced in Sweden. Methodology assessing the toxicant exposure and effects of cigarette-like PREPs for smokers has been developed, and might be modified for use in evaluating PREPs for SLT users. This report describes two studies examining the toxicant exposure and effects of two PREPs for SLT users. Study 1 (n = 13) consisted of four 4.5-hr laboratory sessions where SLT products (own brand, Stonewall, General snus, and tobacco-free placebo) were used for four 30-min episodes and nicotine exposure and tobacco/nicotine abstinence symptoms were measured. Study 2 (n = 19) consisted of four 5-day ad libitum use periods when participants used own brand, Stonewall, General snus, or no SLT and urinary levels of metabolites of nicotine (cotinine) and the TSN 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNAL) and abstinence symptoms were measured. Compared with own brand, Stonewall was associated with lower levels of cotinine and NNAL, while General snus was associated with similar levels of cotinine and lower levels of NNAL. Abstinence symptoms generally did not differ across tobacco conditions. These results show that clinical laboratory methods can be used to evaluate the toxicant exposure and abstinence symptom suppression associated with PREPs for SLT users.


[Trajectories of shifting of dipole sources of visual evoked potentials over the human brain].
Dynamic study of 3D localization of the equivalent current dipole (ECD) sources of visual evoked potentials (EP) in the human brain was performed in 18 healthy subjects using a two-dipole model. Dipole tracing was performed for relatively early EP components (N1, P1, and N2) with 1-ms step. The analysis confirmed localization of these ECDs mainly in the right occipital cortex and revealed their successive shift over this area in the anterior-medial direction and then backwards in all subjects during generation of the EP components. Typically, some successive arch-like trajectories of the shift were revealed (75.8%); their duration was relatively standard (about 25 ms) and did not depend on the stimulus shape and EP phase. Between the 1st and the 2nd trajectories (110-120 ms after the stimulus onset) a jump in ECD coordinates in the medial direction was found in 85% of cases. Possible significance of the findings for the insight into dynamic topography of the visual feature processing in the human brain is discussed.


[Genetic basis of autonomic gastrointestinal motility and pathophysiological models].
The origin of rhythmicity in gastrointestinal motility was long thought to involve the activity of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) that locate in close association with enteric neurons and smooth muscle cells. We have demonstrated that significant decrease in the number of cells immunopositive to c-Kit, a type of tyrosine kinase receptor, in the gastrointestinal tract of mice mutated at the W/c-kit locus and BALB/c mice administered with neutralizing c-Kit antibody leads to the impaired autonomic motility of the gastrointestinal tract. It is also demonstrated that ICC express c-kit which plays important roles in development and maintenance of the ICC network in the gastrointestinal tract. ICC, derived from mesenchymal cells, are classified into smooth muscle type and fibroblast type by their morphology and tissue location. The ligand for c-Kit, Sl factor (SLF), has shown to be expressed in enteric neurons and gastrointestinal smooth muscle cells. Studies with mutant mice and transgenic mice have suggested that functional c-Kit/SLF is required for the differentiation and proliferation of ICC as pacemakers and mediators of neural regulation in gastrointestinal motility. Here we review the genetic basis of autonomic gastrointestinal motility and the pathophysiological models.


Fine structural comparison of Ewing's sarcoma with neuroblastoma.
Two cases of Ewing's sarcoma and two neuroblastoma, rosette forming and round cell type, were studied electron microscopically and their fine structures were compared. The neoplastic cells of Ewing's sarcoma were characterized by aggregated glycogen particles in the cytoplasm. They had pseudopod-like cytoplasmic processes having tight junctions, which never contained microtubules or mitochondria. Ewing's sarcoma cells exhibited several stages of cell maturation and some mature cells possessed a large amount of smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, large Golgi complexes and numerous phagosomes containing glycogen particles as well as cytoplasmic organelles. The neoplastic cells of neuroblastoma, rosette forming type, were characterized by synaptic junctions and numerous cytoplasmic processes with production of neurites containing microtubules, neurofibrils, mitochondria and a few catecholamine granules. A few cytoplasmic processes containing mitochondria were observed even in the round cell type.


[Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis of moderately halophilic bacterium Halobacillus dabanensis D-8T under hypoosmotic shock condition].
Halobacillus dabanensis D-8T was isolated from the saline deposits of Daban lake in Xinjiang of China, and is able to grow in complex medium containing 0.5% to 25% salt. To figure out the survival mechanisms of Gram-positive moderately halophilic bacteria under hypoosmotic shock conditions, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) was carried out to investigate differential protein expression profiles of H. dabanensis D-8T in response to low osmotic challenge. The 2-D gels were stored as dry gels and their images were taken by ImageScanner and analyzed by Imagemaster 2D Platinum software. About 650 protein spots were detected in 2-D gel. Most of proteins were distributed in molecular mass of 17.5 - 66kDa and the range of isoelectric point 4.0 - 5.9. A total of 34 protein spots were found to alter their expression after strain D-8T was subjected to hypoosmotic shock from 20% to 0% salinity for 5 min and 50 min. Among them, the expression of 20 protein spots is up-regulated including 6 new protein spots, while that of 14 protein spots is down-regulated in answer to sudden osmotic down-shift. Protein spots of interest were excised from the gels and digested by trypsin. By means of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) and MASCOT search engine, 4 up-regulated protein spots were identified with peptide mass fingerprint, and are similar to heat shock protein DanK, rod shape-determining protein, penicillin-binding protein (PBP-1A) and 5-enolpyruvoylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, respectively. Noticeably, PBP-1A firstly was up-regulated after shock of 5 min but disappeared after shock of 50 min. This indicated that the strain activate a minor mechanism of peptidoglycan synthesis to compensate the major synthesis mechanism for cells survival through a down-shift challenge. In addition, this paper was the first report that heat shock proteins were up-regulated in response to sudden osmotic down-shift.


Granulomatous diseases of the lung that mimic respiratory infections.
Granulomatous diseases of the lung may have clinical, roentgenographic, and pathological features that closely mimic respiratory tract infections. The protean manifestations of sarcoidosis allow confusion with a wide variety of infectious diseases. Acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis closely mimics an infectious illness; even subacute or chronic presentations may be mistaken for infections. Less commonly, the manifestations of intravenous talc granulomatous disease may also mimic infection.


[Diagnosis of legionellosis].
The majority of legionellosis are caused by Legionella pneumophila, especially serogroup 1, the only diagnosed by Legionella urinary antigen test. The diagnosis of other serogroups and other Legionella species is based on culture and seroconversion. Sever cases are more frequently observed in immunocompromised patients and in nosocomial pneumonias. Each case must lead to look for the source of contamination, to detect other potential patients and permit environmental measures. Clinically and radiographically, the pneumonia is non specific except if suggestive gastro-enteric or neurologic symptoms are present. The diagnosis could be suspected in case of relative bradypnia or beta-lactamin resistance.


Interactions among chymotryptic troponin T subfragments, tropomyosin, troponin I and troponin C.
The binding of various combinations of chymotryptic troponin T subfragments, troponin I and troponin C to tropomyosin, troponin C and troponin I was examined semiquantitatively by using affinity chromatography. The interaction between troponin T2 and troponin I intensified the interaction between troponin T2 (or troponin T) and tropomyosin. When a mixture of troponin T2 and troponin C was applied to a tropomyosin-Sepharose 4B column, neither troponin T2 nor troponin C was retained in the presence of Ca2+ ion, while only troponin T2 was bound in the absence of Ca2+ ion. Such a Ca2+-dependent effect was not observed with troponin T. Troponin T2 subfragments, except troponin T2 beta III, were retained by troponin C-Sepharose 4B in the presence of troponin I, even in the solution containing 1.0 M NaCl, in the presence and absence of Ca2+ ion. On the basis of these findings, the interactions among troponin components and tropomyosin are discussed.


Analytic model for low energy excitation states and phase transitions in spin-ice systems.
Low energy excitation states in magnetic structures of the so-called spin-ices are produced via spin flips among contiguous tetrahedra of their crystal structure. These spin flips generate entities which mimic magnetic dipoles in every two tetrahedra according to the dumbbell model. When the temperature increases, the spin-flip processes are transmitted in the lattice, generating so-called Dirac strings, which constitute structural entities that can present mimetic behavior similar to that of magnetic monopoles. In recent studies of both specific heat and ac magnetic susceptibility, two (even possibly three) phases have been shown to vary the temperature. The first of these phases presents a sharp peak in the specific heat and another phase transition occurs for increasing temperature whose peak is broader than that of the former phase. The sharp peak occurs when there are no free individual magnetic charges and temperature of the second phase transition coincides with the maximum proliferation of free deconfined magnetic charges. In the present paper, we propose a model for analyzing the low energy excitation many-body states of these spin-ice systems. We give analytical formulas for the internal energy, specific heat, entropy and their temperature evolution. We study the description of the possible global states via the nature and structure of their one-body components by means of the thermodynamic functions. Below 0.37 K, the Coulomb-like magnetic charge interaction can generate a phase transition to a condensation of pole-antipole pairs, possibly having Bose-Einstein structure which is responsible for the sharp peak of the first phase transition. When there are sufficient free positive and negative charges, the system tends to behave as a magnetic plasma, which implies the broader peak in the specific heat appearing at higher temperature than the sharper experimental peak.


Modulation of cell-mediated immune response by steroids and free fatty acids in AIDS patients: a critical survey.
The overall data presented in this review show that cortisol and free fatty acids, in particular long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, each have immunoinhibitory properties on lymphoblastic transformation of certain T lymphocytes. This effect is enhanced when the two factors are associated. These data could explain in part the immunosuppression observed in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients where enhanced concentrations of cortisol and polyunsaturated fatty acids have been observed. The mechanisms which relate the action of the human immunodeficiency virus to the disturbance of steroidal hormonemia and lipid metabolism are discussed. The knowledge of these mechanisms would lead to new therapeutic measures against immunosuppression. These new weapons could be the administration of diets or treatments (liposomes) modifying the lipid profile of circulating cells and/or viruses and the utilization of hormonal therapy in AIDS and in some types of cancer which often present a biologic picture similar to that of AIDS.


[Anti-fungal drugs. Current status and guidelines for their administration].
Current medicine, in its zeal to cure diseases that, to-date, have been incurable, has overcome many barriers. High-dose chemotherapy, bone marrow and solid organ transplant, haemodialysis, parenteral and enteral nutrition, and other techniques have produced longer survival and cures for seriously ill patients. Over the past few years, fungal infections have become an important factor in morbidity and mortality in patients who are not only immunocompromised but also suffering severe pathologies. Anti-fungal treatment has been enriched, recently, with new compounds that are widening the therapeutic options for many of these patients.


Effects of electroconductive heat treatment and electrical pretreatment on thermal death kinetics of selected microorganisms.
Suspensions of yeast cell (zygo Saccharomyces bailii) in a phosphate buffer solution were subjected to conventional (hot water) and ohmic (electric current) heating under identical temperature histories. Experiments were also conducted with cells of Escherichia coli to compare the lethal effect of combination of sublethal electrical preteatment and conventional heating with conventional heating. The kinetic parameters (D,Z,K and E(a)) were determined for both organisms during different treatments. There was no significant difference in the death rate of yeast cells during conventional and ohmic heating at the voltage range used in this study. Results of electrical pretreatment and conventional heating on E. coli indicated differences under certain conditions when compared with pure conventional heating. Thus it is concluded that microbial death during ohmic heating was due primarily to thermal effects with no significant effect of electric current per se. Sublethal electrical pretreatment appears to offer potential for increased bacterial inactivation in certain cases.


[Analysis of phonosurgical methods of treatment in spasmodic dysphonia].
Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is rather a rare voice disorder. It is most often seen in woman aged 40-50. The disease is caused by deep emotional and neurological disorders of extrapyramidal system. Two main clinical forms of SD are distinguished: about 90% of cases - adductor spasmodic dysphonia and abductor spasmodic dysphonia roughly 10%. Conservative therapy does not always yield sufficient effects. Botulinum toxin - type A injections into the thyroarytenoid muscle are also used in therapy. Though results are temporary and reversible. Among phonosurgical methods thyroplasty type II according to Isshiki and tyroarytenoid muscle myectomy (TAM) should be also mentioned among phonosurgical methods. The aim of the work is to evaluate results of conservative and phonosurgical treatment of SD. Spasmodic dysphonia markedly restricts communication process of patients and public relations both social and occupational.


[Comparison between spiral x-ray computed tomography and endosonography in the diagnosis and staging of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Clinical preliminary study].
To determinate in a retrospective clinical study the benefit of helical-CT for the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic carcinoma compared with endoscopic ultrasonography. Results of helical-CT and endoscopic ultrasonographic investigations relative to 24 cases of histologically proved adenocarcinoma were reviewed. The criteria studied were: a) existence of a pancreatic mass, b) diagnosis of malignancy, c) existence of vascular involvement, d) lymph node involvement. Statistical analysis (binomial test) was performed in 24 patients for the assessment of mass and malignancy and in 10 patients for the assessment of vascular involvement (9 patients who underwent surgery and one patient with a positive arteriography). For diagnosis of pancreatic mass both methods were equivalent: 91.5% (22 cases out of 24) for helical-CT and 87.5% (21 cases out of 24) for endoscopic ultrasonography. Two pancreatic masses were seen only with endoscopic ultrasonography. Their size was under 3 cm. Two of the 3 masses not seen with endoscopic ultrasonography were infiltrative lesions measuring more than 3 cm. Helical-CT was significantly superior to endoscopic ultrasonography for the diagnosis of malignancy (96% vs 71%) (P = 0.035). The accuracy of helical-CT for vascular involvement was significantly superior to endoscopic ultrasonography (90% vs 40%) (P = 0.031). Endoscopic ultrasonography underestimated vascular involvement in 5 cases: mesenterico-portal confluence (3 cases), superior mesenteric artery (2 cases). In the 6 cases with histologically proved lymph node involvement, endoscopic ultrasonography (6 correct assessments) was superior to helical-CT (3 correct assessments). This study confirms the complementarity of helical-CT and endoscopic ultrasonography for the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. It suggests that helical-CT is superior to endoscopic ultrasonography for diagnosis of malignancy and assessment of vascular involvement and endoscopic ultrasonography is superior to helical-CT for diagnosis of lymph node involvement. These preliminary results have to be confirmed by a prospective study including a large number of patients with surgical correlation.


The Effects of 17β-estradiol in Cancer are Mediated by Estrogen Receptor Signaling at the Plasma Membrane.
Two different isoforms of the estrogen receptors (i.e., ERα and ERβ) mediate pleiotropic 17β-estradiol (E2)-induced cellular effects. The ERs are principally localized in the nucleus where they act by globally modifying the expression of the E2-target genes. The premise that E2 effects are exclusively mediated through the nuclear localized ERs has been rendered obsolete by research over the last 15 years demonstrating that ERα and ERβ proteins are also localized at the plasma membranes and in other extra-nuclear organelles. The E2 modulation of cancer cell proliferation represents a good example of the impact of membrane-initiated signals on E2 effects. In fact, E2 via ERα elicits rapid signals driving cancer cells to proliferation (e.g., in breast cancer cells), while E2-induced ERβ rapid signaling inhibits proliferation (e.g., in colon cancer cells). In this review we provide with an overview of the complex system of E2-induced signal transduction pathways, their impact on E2-induced cancer cell proliferation, and the participation of E2-induced membrane-initiated signals in tumor environment.


Emerging approaches in hepatocellular carcinoma.
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is predicted to continue to increase over the next 30 years. Surgical intervention, including resection and orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is offered to a limited number of patients. Novel approaches to the treatment of patients with HCC are needed. This article aims to review emerging approaches in the care of the HCC patient including systemic treatment, selection of appropriate candidates for OLT, improved imaging to follow treatment response, and management pre-OLT and post-OLT.


Recurrent intrathecal baclofen pump catheter leakage: A surgical observation with recommendations.
Intrathecal baclofen pump catheter complications are the most common cause for failure in drug delivery. A 4-year-old boy presented with repeated signs of baclofen tolerance despite progressive increases in dosing. External computerized interrogation of the pump and radiograph evaluation of the pump-catheter-intrathecal sac system were normal. Subsequently, he was taken to the emergency room for baclofen overdosage and brought to the operating room for exploration of the implant. Intraoperative assessment of the pump catheter found a cut on the catheter neck that was visible only when the catheter neck was flexed. The catheter was replaced without complications. Two months later, the patient returned with similar symptoms. Repeat computerized and radiographic assessment of the pump were normal. Intraoperative assessment showed a cut within the same portion of the catheter as previously discovered. The catheter cut was in the least flexible portion, the pump-catheter neck, which was found to be overlying the iliac crest in both surgeries. The authors hypothesize that the repetitive compressive forces of the catheter overlying the iliac crest led to catheter breakdown. Surgical placement of the pump-catheter neck should be superio-medial to reduce the likelihood of either internal or external compressive forces.


Benthic primary producers are key to sustain the Wadden Sea food web: stable carbon isotope analysis at landscape scale.
Coastal food webs can be supported by local benthic or pelagic primary producers and by the import of organic matter. Distinguishing between these energy sources is essential for our understanding of ecosystem functioning. However, the relative contribution of these components to the food web at the landscape scale is often unclear, as many studies lack good taxonomic and spatial resolution across large areas. Here, using stable carbon isotopes, we report on the primary carbon sources for consumers and their spatial variability across one of the world's largest intertidal ecosystems (Dutch Wadden Sea; 1460 km2 intertidal surface area), at an exceptionally high taxonomic (178 species) and spatial resolution (9,165 samples from 839 locations). The absence of overlap in δ13 C values between consumers and terrestrial organic matter suggests that benthic and pelagic producers dominate carbon input into this food web. In combination with the consistent enrichment of benthic primary producers (δ13 C -16.3‰) relative to pelagic primary producers (δ13 C -18.8) across the landscape, this allowed the use of a two-food-source isotope-mixing model. This spatially resolved modelling revealed that benthic primary producers (microphytobenthos) are the most important energy source for the majority of consumers at higher trophic levels (worms, molluscs, crustaceans, fish, and birds), and thus to the whole food web. In addition, we found large spatial heterogeneity in the δ13 C values of benthic primary producers (δ13 C -19.2 to -11.5‰) and primary consumers (δ13 C -25.5 to -9.9‰), emphasizing the need for spatially explicit sampling of benthic and pelagic primary producers in coastal ecosystems. Our findings have important implications for our understanding of the functioning of ecological networks and for the management of coastal ecosystems.


Season, molt, and body size influence mercury concentrations in grebes.
We studied seasonal and physiological influences on mercury concentrations in western grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark's grebes (A. occidentalis) across 29 lakes and reservoirs in California, USA. Additionally, at three of these lakes, we conducted a time series study, in which we repeatedly sampled grebe blood mercury concentrations during the spring, summer, and early fall. Grebe blood mercury concentrations were higher among males (0.61 ± 0.12 μg/g ww) than females (0.52 ± 0.10 μg/g ww), higher among Clark's grebes (0.58 ± 0.12 μg/g ww) than western grebes (0.51 ± 0.10 μg/g ww), and exhibited a strong seasonal pattern (decreasing by 60% from spring to fall). Grebe blood THg concentrations exhibited a shallow, inverse U-shaped pattern with body size, and was lowest among the smallest and largest grebes. Further, the relationship between grebe blood mercury concentrations and wing primary feather molt exhibited a shallow U-shaped pattern, where mercury concentrations were highest among birds that had not yet begun molting, decreased approximately 24% between pre-molt and late molt, and increased approximately 19% from late molt to post-molt. Because grebes did not begin molting until mid-summer, lower grebe blood mercury concentrations observed in late summer and early fall were consistent with the onset of primary feather molt. However, because sampling date was a much stronger predictor of grebe mercury concentrations than molt, other seasonally changing environmental factors likely played a larger role than molt in the seasonal variation in grebe mercury concentrations. In the time series study, we found that seasonal trends in grebe mercury concentrations were not consistent among lakes, indicating that lake-specific variation in mercury dynamics influence the overall seasonal decline in grebe blood mercury concentrations. These results highlight the importance of accounting for sampling date, as well as ecological processes that may influence mercury concentrations, when developing monitoring programs to assess site-specific exposure risk of mercury to wildlife.


Naftopidil for the treatment of urinary symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Naftopidil, approved only in Japan, is an α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist (α1-blocker) used to treat lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Different from tamsulosin hydrochloride and silodosin, in that it has higher and extremely higher affinity respectively, for the α1A-adrenergic receptor subtype than for the α1D type, naftopidil has distinct characteristics because it has a three times greater affinity for the α1D-adrenergic receptor subtype than for the α1A subtype. Although well-designed large-scale randomized controlled studies are lacking and the optimal dosage of naftopidil is not always completely determined, previous reports from Japan have shown that naftopidil has superior efficacy to a placebo and comparable efficacy to other α1-blockers such as tamsulosin. On the other hand, the incidences of ejaculatory disorders and intraoperative floppy iris syndrome induced by naftopidil may be lower than for tamsulosin and silodosin having high affinity for the α1A-adrenergic receptor subtype. However, it remains unknown if the efficacy and safety of naftopidil in Japanese is applicable to white, black and Hispanic men having LUTS/BPH in western countries.


Synthesis and reactivity of a cyclopentadienyl-indenyl ligand ring-coupled by a chiral bridge derived from ethyl (S)-(-) lactate.
In order to prepare a new unsymmetrical chiral ligand, C9H7CH(CH3)CH2C5H5, with an indenyl moiety connected to a cyclopentadienyl unit by a chiral ethylene bridge, we reacted the optically active tosylate 4, derived from ethyl (S)-(-) lactate, with LiCp. The only product resulting from this reaction was an optically active spirocyclopropane 6 obtained with a high diastereoselectivity (81.8% de). We also observed that, when the reduction of the ethyl indene lactate 2 was realized with an excess of LiAlH4 in Et2O under reflux, spirocyclopropane 6 was obtained in high yield with the same diastereoselectivity. When tosylate 4 was reacted with MgCp2, in place of LiCp, ligand 5 was obtained in good yield as a mixture of two double-bond isomers of the Cp unit. Ligand 5 was fully structurally characterized after conversion into transition monometallic complexes such as C9H7CH(CH3)CH2η(5)-C5H4Mo(CO)3Me 7 and C9H7CH(CH3)CH2η(5)-C5H4Rh(COD) 9, in which the indene moiety was kept intact due to the difference in reactivity of the indenyl moiety with respect to the cyclopentadienyl unit. An attempt to prepare a heterobimetallic complex from the sodium indenide salt of 7 and [RhCl(COD)]2, afforded a rhodium cyclopentadienyl complex 9, resulting from a metal exchange reaction with loss of the molybdenum part initially coordinated to the Cp unit, and conservation of the optical purity. An homobimetallic rhodium complex 10 could be prepared by deprotonation of ligand 5 with TlOEt, followed by quenching with [RhCl(COD)]2. The bis-rhodium complex 10 is obtained as a mixture of two diastereoisomers 10a and 10b with respect to the planar chirality of the indenyl ring system, with a good diastereoisomeric excess de = 70%. The structures of both complexes 9 and major (pS)-diastereoisomer 10a were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.


Sex differences in the inflammatory mediator-induced sensitization of dural afferents.
Approximately 20% of the adult population suffers from migraine. This debilitating pain disorder is three times more prevalent in women than in men. To begin to evaluate the underlying mechanisms that may contribute to this sex difference, we tested the hypothesis that there is a sex difference in the inflammatory mediator (IM)-induced sensitization of dural afferents. Acutely dissociated retrogradely labeled dural afferents from adult Sprague-Dawley rats were examined with whole cell patch-clamp recordings. Baseline passive and active electrophysiological properties of dural afferents from both sexes were comparable. However, while IM-induced increases in the excitability of dural afferents from male and female rats were also comparable, the proportion of dural afferents from female rats sensitized by IM (~100%) was significantly greater than that of dural afferents from male rats (~50%). This appeared to be due to differences downstream of IM receptors, as tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium current was increased by IM in a majority of male dural afferents (13/14). These data indicate that there are both quantitative and qualitative differences in the IM-induced sensitization of dural afferents that may contribute to the sex difference in the manifestation of migraine.


Inferring the phylogenetic position of Brugia pahangi using 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene sequence.
This paper presents the first reported use of 18S rRNA gene sequence to determine the phylogeny of Brugia pahangi. The 18S rRNA nucleotide sequence of a Malaysian B. pahangi isolate was obtained by PCR cloning and sequencing. The sequence was compared with 18S rRNA sequences of other nematodes, including those of some filarial nematodes. Multiple alignment and homology analysis suggest that B. pahangi is closely related to B. malayi and Wuchereria bancrofti. Phylogenetic trees constructed using Neighbour Joining, Minimum Evolution and Maximum Parsimony methods correctly grouped B. pahangi with other filarial nematodes, with closest relationship with B. malayi and W. bancrofti. The phylogeny of B. pahangi obtained in this study is in concordance with those previously reported, in which the 5S rRNA gene spacer region and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences were used.


Reduction in midthigh low-density muscle with aerobic exercise training and weight loss impacts glucose tolerance in older men.
Intramuscular lipid content increases with aging and obesity and is directly related to impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Our purpose was to determine the effects of aerobic exercise training (AEX) with and without weight loss (WL) on midthigh low-density muscle (LDM; a measure of im lipid) and whether changes in LDM impact glucose tolerance in sedentary older men. Forty-six men (60.4 +/- 1.1 yr) completed 6 months of AEX (n = 34) or AEX + WL (n = 12) and had oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) and computed tomography measures of LDM and regional abdominal and thigh fat depot areas. At baseline, LDM area directly correlated with fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 120-min glucose (G(120)), and glucose area under the curve (G(AUC)) during an OGTT (r = 0.44, r = 0.51, and r = 0.54, respectively, P < 0.01). After the interventions, the AEX + WL group had greater decreases in LDM (-13.5 vs. +1.3%, respectively), FPG (-8.3 vs. +2.1%, respectively), G(120) (-22.5 vs. -3.6%, respectively), and G(AUC) (-17.3 vs. - 3.1%, respectively) than the AEX group. In the entire sample, the decreases in LDM correlated with reductions in FPG, G(120), and G(AUC) during an OGTT (r = 0.31, r = 0.34, and r = 0.41, P < 0.05). Changes in other regional fat depots did not independently correlate with glucose tolerance or insulin responses. AEX + WL is more efficacious than AEX for reducing LDM and glucose tolerance. The improvement in glucose tolerance may be partially mediated by decreases in LDM in older men.


Combination of Xylanase and Debranching Enzymes Specific to Wheat Arabinoxylan Improve the Growth Performance and Gut Health of Broilers.
Arabinoxylan (AX) is the major antinutritional factor of wheat. This study evaluated the synergistic effects of xylanase and debranching enzymes (arabinofuranosidase [ABF] and feruloyl esterase [FAE]) on AX. During in vitro tests, the addition of ABF or FAE accelerated the hydrolysis of water-soluble AX (WE-AX) and water-insoluble AX (WU-AX) and produced more xylan oligosaccharides (XOS) than xylanase alone. XOS obtained from WE-AX stimulated greater proliferation of Lactobacillus brevis and Bacillus subtilis than did fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and glucose. During in vivo trials, xylanase increased the average daily growth (ADG), decreased the feed-conversion ratio (FCR), and reduced the digesta viscosity of jejunum and intestinal lesions of broilers fed a wheat-based diet on day 36. ABF or FAE additions further improved these effects. Broilers fed a combination of xylanase, ABF, and FAE exhibited the best growth. In conclusion, the synergistic effects among xylanase, ABF, and FAE increased AX degradation, which improve the growth performance and gut health of broilers.


Magical food and health beliefs: a portrait of believers and functions of the beliefs.
The aims of the present two studies were to delineate a portrait of people who are attracted to magical beliefs about food and health and to study the self-reported functions for the beliefs. Participants were Finnish men and women ranging in age from 15 to 66 years (N=3261 in study 1 and N=189 in study 2), and they filled in either an Internet-based or a paper questionnaire. The believers were more often women than men, vegetarians than omnivores, and they relied more on alternative medicine, thought in a more intuitive way, and demonstrated more eating-disordered thinking than the nonbelievers. Additionally, the believers had experienced slightly more negative life events than the nonbelievers in study 1 but contrary to our hypothesis, they did not differ in their desire for control. The believers reported value-expressive function as the most important one served by their beliefs, followed by the control and utilitarian functions. The emotional, intuitive nature of food beliefs and their connection to values and identity are discussed.


Biological Filtration is Resilient to Wildfire Ash-Associated Organic Carbon Threats to Drinking Water Treatment.
Elevated/altered levels of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in water can be challenging to treat after wildfire. Biologically mediated treatment removes some DOM; here, its ability to remove elevated/altered postfire dissolved organic carbon (DOC) resulting from wildfire ash was investigated for the first time. Treatment of wildfire ash-amended (low, moderate, high) source waters by bench-scale biofilters was evaluated in duplicate. Turbidity and DOC were typically well-removed (effluent turbidity ≤0.3 NTU; average DOC removal ∼20%) in all biofilters during periods of stable source water quality. Daily DOC removal across all biofilters (ash-amended and controls) was generally consistent, suggesting that (i) the biofilter DOC biodegradation capacity was not deleteriously impacted by the ash and (ii) the biofilters buffered the ash-associated increases in water extractable organic matter. DOM fractionation indicates this was because the biodegradable low molecular weight neutral fractions of DOM, which increased with ash addition, were reduced by biofiltration while humic substances were largely recalcitrant. Thus, biological filtration was resilient to wildfire ash-associated DOM threats to drinking water treatment, but operational resilience may be compromised if the balance between readily removed and recalcitrant fractions of DOM change, as was observed during brief periods herein.


Serogroups and genotypes of Leptospira spp. strains from bovine aborted foetuses.
Leptospirosis is a global disease of animals, with potential major economic impact on livestock industry and important zoonotic capacities. The disease represents a major challenge in the developing countries as humans and animals frequently live in close association. The serovar Hardjo of Leptospira whose primary host is cattle has been studied extensively, but few data exist on other current circulating or emerging serotypes. To better understand the disease in cattle and how to prevent and/or control it, it is necessary to identify the genotype and the serotype of circulating Leptospira. This study presents results of several investigations performed on a historical Belgian collection of congenital jaundice in bovine aborted foetuses coming from the leptospirosis emerging episode of 2014 (Delooz et al., Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 62, 2015, 124). The results revealed that L. Grippotyphosa and L. Australis were the most prevalent serogroups with, respectively, 17/42 and 13/42 positive microscopic agglutination test (MAT) during this emerging event associated with the same clinical pattern. The study also confirms that congenital jaundice is associated with L. kirscheneri and L. interrogans and provides the genotyping of DNA obtained from these two species.


Test of prototype ITER vacuum ultraviolet spectrometer and its application to impurity study in KSTAR plasmas.
To optimize the design of ITER vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectrometer, a prototype VUV spectrometer was developed. The sensitivity calibration curve of the spectrometer was calculated from the mirror reflectivity, the grating efficiency, and the detector efficiency. The calibration curve was consistent with the calibration points derived in the experiment using the calibrated hollow cathode lamp. For the application of the prototype ITER VUV spectrometer, the prototype spectrometer was installed at KSTAR, and various impurity emission lines could be measured. By analyzing about 100 shots, strong positive correlation between the O VI and the C IV emission intensities could be found.


Pokémon Go and augmented virtual reality games: a cautionary commentary for parents and pediatricians.
The recent release of Pokémon Go has ushered in a new set of challenges for parents and pediatricians, highlighting the importance of parents setting guidelines for video game use with their children. Within 1 week of its launch, the game attracted over 65 million users, many of whom are young children. Despite the potential benefits of the game described in our article, this location-based game format poses specific threats to the safety and physical wellbeing of children. Reports have discussed both the benefits and adverse effects of this extremely popular video game. Benefits include increased exercise, socialization, and outdoor activity. Negative effects include increased risk of injury, abduction, trespassing, violence, and cost. Pediatricians play a key role in counseling parents and children about safety precautions and setting appropriate limits for impressionable youth. Parents and pediatricians should be aware of this new and remarkably popular game that appeals to a wide variety of individuals. To protect children from injury, predators, and inappropriate situations, parents and pediatricians must regulate children's participation in this game and maintain vigilance for potentially dangerous circumstances.


In vitro replication of bacteriophage GA RNA. Involvement of host factor(s) in GA RNA replication.
A certain factor(s) derived from Escherichia coli was found to extensively stimulate RNA synthesis by the RNA replicase of phage GA. This factor(s), named GA-HF (host factor(s) for GA RNA replication), was partially purified from an uninfected cell extract and characterized. In the presence of GA-HF, GA replicase synthesized 50-100 times more RNA than was synthesized in its absence, and was capable of synthesizing both the viral strand as well as its complementary strand. This factor(s) could not be replaced by HFI, which is necessary for the replication of Q beta RNA by Q beta replicase. In the presence of GA-HF, the GA RNA replication system has a characteristic template specificity. Group I and II phage RNAs, but none of the Group III and IV phage RNAs, showed template activity.


Grazing incidence X-ray scattering to probe the self-assembly of phthalocyanine nanorods on a liquid surface.
The structural properties of Langmuir monolayers on aqueous substrates of a metal free phthalocyanine, 2,9,16,23-tetrakis(phenylthio)-29H,31H-phthalocyanine and an Aluminum centered phthalocyanine, Aluminum 2,9,16,23-tetrakis(phenylthio)-29H,31H-phthalocyanine chloride are reported here. Their structure is investigated under progressive lateral compression by grazing incidence diffuse X-ray scattering out of the specular plane to determine specular reflectivity-like information where the phase change of the molecules from "flat-lying" on the surface to "edge-standing" perpendicular to the surface was directly observed. Furthermore grazing incident X-ray diffraction is used to investigate the in-plane ordering of the system where it has been found that at high density states the systems can be considered as monolayers consisting of arrays of side-by-side cofacially aggregated cylindrical rodlike entities.


Oxygen uptake kinetics in children and adults after the onset of moderate-intensity exercise.
The literature suggests that the oxygen uptake (VO2) response to the onset of moderate-intensity exercise may be both mature from childhood and independent of sex. Yet the cardiorespiratory response to exercise and the metabolic profile of the muscle appear to change with growth and development and to differ between the sexes. The aim of this study was to investigate further changes in the VO2 kinetic response with age and sex. Participants completed a series of no less than four step change transitions, from unloaded pedalling to a constant work rate corresponding to 80% of their previously determined ventilatory threshold. Each participant's breath-by-breath responses were interpolated to 1 s intervals, time aligned and then averaged. A single exponential model that included a time delay was used to analyse the averaged response following phase 1 (15 s). Participants with parameter confidence intervals more than +/- 5 s were removed from the sample; the results for the remaining 13 men and 12 women (age 19-26 years), 12 boys and 11 girls (age 11-12 years) were used for statistical analysis. Children had a significantly shorter time constant than adults, both for males (19.0+/-2.0 and 27.9+/-8.6 s respectively; P<0.01) and females (21.0+/-5.5 and 26.0+/-4.5 s respectively; P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the time constant between the sexes for either adults or children (P>0.05). A significant relationship between the time constant and peak VO2 was found only in adult males (P<0.05). A shorter time constant in children may reflect an enhanced potential for oxidative metabolism.


Mars' atmospheric history derived from upper-atmosphere measurements of 38Ar/36Ar.
The history of Mars' atmosphere is important for understanding the geological evolution and potential habitability of the planet. We determine the amount of gas lost to space through time using measurements of the upper-atmospheric structure made by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft. We derive the structure of 38Ar/36Ar between the homopause and exobase altitudes. Fractionation of argon occurs as a result of loss of gas to space by pickup-ion sputtering, which preferentially removes the lighter atom. The measurements require that 66% of the atmospheric argon has been lost to space. Thus, a large fraction of Mars' atmospheric gas has been lost to space, contributing to the transition in climate from an early, warm, wet environment to today's cold, dry atmosphere.


[The status and prospects of immunological research in uveitis].
Uveitis is a group of common sight-threatening intraocular inflammatory diseases. Besides of few patients caused by infectious agents, most of patients caused by the autoimmune reactions. In recent years, the basic and clinical researches in the immunology of uveitis had many advances. The complex immunologic mechanisms in uveitis were explained from the levels of cellular and molecular immunology. And the theoretical basis on the treatment of uveitis was established. But there are some unresolved questions existed in the fields of uveitis researches, such as the mechanisms of body defense system to prevent the intraocular inflammation, the pathogenesis of infection that causes the autoimmune response and the autoimmune uveoretinitis, the susceptible gene of uveitis and the related factors associated with occurrence and chronic in uveitis. The deeper studies on these questions will be benefit to the diagnosis and treatment of human refractory uveitis.


In vivo D-serine deaminase transcription start sites in wild-type Escherichia coli and in dsdA promoter mutants.
The D-serine deaminase structural (dsdA) and regulatory (dsdC) genes are transcribed with opposite polarity from an intergenic region comprising more than 600 base pairs. The order of genes in the dsd region is supN-dsdA-dsdC-aroC---his. The DNA sequence of the intergenic region has been slightly revised from a previously published version (E. McFall and L. Runkel, J. Bacteriol. 154:1508-1512, 1983). The dsdA gene is preceded by a long open reading frame. The dsdA in vivo transcription start sites for the wild type (base pair +1) and for three phenotypically distinct promoter constitutive mutants were determined by the S1 nuclease method. They are identical and are located about 81 base pairs upstream of the translation start site. D-Serine deaminase regulation is normal in rho mutants. Possible mechanisms for dsdA activation are discussed.


Hatchery-acquired salmonellae in broiler chicks.
Hatchery contamination can result in exposure of newly hatched chicks to salmonellae at a time when they are most susceptible to colonization of their intestinal tract. Eggshell fragments, external rinses, and intestinal tracts from day-of-hatch chicks were sampled for salmonellae contamination. Chicks from the same hatching trays were then put in isolators or floor pens and fed a pelleted corn-soybean ration for 1 wk before external rinses and ceca from each chick were sampled for salmonellae. About 17% of eggshell, 21% of chick rinses, and 5% of intestines sampled at Day 0 were positive for salmonellae. No differences were observed between broiler hatcheries, but significant differences were seen between replications within hatching cabinets. Results from this study suggest a correlation between hatchery-acquired salmonellae and the production of potential seeder birds. No differences between eggshell and chick rinse samples were found (correlation = .81); therefore, eggshells are recommended as the best sample to determine hatchery salmonellae contamination.


Educating the Future Environmental Health Workforce During COVID-19: Developing a Virtual Curriculum for Navajo Student Interns Using the Environmental Health and Land Reuse Certificate Program.
Beginning in 2016, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) launched a partnership to create a free online course with the goal of building capacity within communities to help remediate and redevelop brownfields sites. Brownfields are land reuse sites often contaminated by harmful chemicals or redeveloped without proper environmental oversight. Due to their potentially hazardous status, brownfields sites can lead to harmful exposures in humans while accentuating and often exacerbating socioeconomic disparities within their communities. As a result of this partnership, NEHA and ATSDR launched the Environmental Health and Land Reuse (EHLR) Certificate Program in 2020. The Journal is pleased to feature this column to highlight an example of how the EHLR Certificate Program was used to build understanding and increase knowledge on this important topic within environmental health students. The findings and conclusions in this column are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or official position of NEHA, ATSDR, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Furthermore, verbal permission was given by the students to use their work in this column.


The Cooperative Functions of the EBNA3 Proteins Are Central to EBV Persistence and Latency.
The Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 3 (EBNA3) family of proteins, comprising EBNA3A, EBNA3B, and EBNA3C, play pivotal roles in the asymptomatic persistence and life-long latency of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the worldwide human population. EBNA3-mediated transcriptional reprogramming of numerous host cell genes promotes in vitro B cell transformation and EBV persistence in vivo. Despite structural and sequence similarities, and evidence of substantial cooperative activity between the EBNA3 proteins, they perform quite different, often opposing functions. Both EBNA3A and EBNA3C are involved in the repression of important tumour suppressive pathways and are considered oncogenic. In contrast, EBNA3B exhibits tumour suppressive functions. This review focuses on how the EBNA3 proteins achieve the delicate balance required to support EBV persistence and latency, with emphasis on the contribution of the Allday laboratory to the field of EBNA3 biology.


Pre-Travel Medical Preparation of Business and Occupational Travelers: An Analysis of the Global TravEpiNet Consortium, 2009 to 2012.
The aim of the study was to understand more about pre-travel preparations and itineraries of business and occupational travelers. De-identified data from 18 Global TravEpiNet clinics from January 2009 to December 2012 were analyzed. Of 23,534 travelers, 61% were non-occupational and 39% occupational. Business travelers were more likely to be men, had short times to departure and shorter trip durations, and commonly refused influenza, meningococcal, and hepatitis B vaccines. Most business travelers indicated that employers suggested the pre-travel health consultation, whereas non-occupational travelers sought consultations because of travel health concerns. Sub-groups of occupational travelers have characteristic profiles, with business travelers being particularly distinct. Employers play a role in encouraging business travelers to seek pre-travel consultations. Such consultations, even if scheduled immediately before travel, can identify vaccination gaps and increase coverage.


Evaluation of an evidence-based intervention implemented with African-American women to prevent substance abuse, strengthen relationship skills and reduce risk for HIV/AIDS.
African-American females in the U.S. are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, and a large majority of new infections in this population are attributed to heterosexual contact. Risk factors include substance abuse, lack of knowledge about male partners' possible HIV infection risk, incarceration, disruptions of social networks, and intimate partner violence. This study assessed the effects of a comprehensive, evidence-based prevention intervention, Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC) that was implemented with sensitivity to African-American females, using a quasi-experimental design. The CLFC program was implemented with 175 women and their results were compared to a convenience sample of 44 women who were similar on background characteristics. Results showed significant (p < .05, two-tailed) increases in the proportion of individuals getting HIV tested and getting the results from these tests, a larger decrease in intimate partner abuse within the past three months, and larger increases in three relationship skills (emotional expression, interpersonal skills, and relationship satisfaction) relative to the comparison group.


Single-cell transcriptome analysis of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) associated gene ACE2 expression in normal and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) human male testes.
Being infected by SARS-CoV-2 may cause damage to multiple organs in patients, such as the lung, liver and heart. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), reported as a SARS-CoV-2 receptor, is also expressed in human male testes. This suggests a potential risk in human male reproductive system. However, the characteristics of ACE2-positive cells and the expression of other SARS-CoV-2 process-related genes are still worthy of further investigation. Here, we performed singlecell RNA seq (scRNA-seq) analysis on 853 male embryo primordial germ cells (PGCs) and 2,854 normal testis cells to assess the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the male reproductive system from embryonic stage to adulthood. We also collected and constructed the scRNA-seq library on 228 Sertoli cells from three non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients to assess the effects at disease state. We found that ACE2 expressing cells existed in almost all testis cell types and Sertoli cells had highest expression level and positive cells ratio. Moreover, ACE2 was also expressed in human male PGCs. In adulthood, the level of ACE2 expression decreased with the increase of age. We also found that ACE2 positive cells had high expressions of stress response and immune activation-related genes. Interestingly, some potential SARS-CoV-2 process-related genes such as TMPRSS2, BSG, CTSL and CTSB had different expression patterns in the same cell type. Furthermore, ACE2 expression level in NOA donors' Sertoli cells was significantly decreased. Our work would help to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the male reproductive system.


Chemical and Bioactive Screening of Green Polyphenol-Rich Extracts from Chestnut By-Products: An Approach to Guide the Sustainable Production of High-Added Value Ingredients.
Opportunities for the valorisation of agro-industrial residues of the chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) production chain have been fostered with the production of multifunctional polyphenol-rich extracts with the potential to be introduced as natural additives or active components in several products. Nonetheless, it is crucial to explore the feasibility of different extracts from the various by-products for these applications through the exhaustive study of their composition and bioactivities without losing sight of the sustainable character of the process. This work aimed at the screening of the phenolic compound composition and bioactivities of different green extracts of chestnut burs, shells and leaves, as the first step to establish their potential application as natural ingredients, primarily as food preservatives. To this end, maceration (MAC) as a conventional extraction method besides ultrasound and microwave-assisted extractions (UAE and MAE) was employed to obtain the extracts from chestnut by-products using water (W) and hydroethanolic solution (HE) as solvents. Phenolic compounds were analysed by HPLC-DAD-(ESI-)MS/MS; the antioxidant capacity was assessed by colourimetric assays, and the antimicrobial activity was evaluated against several strains of food-borne bacteria and fungi. The leaf extracts obtained by MAC-HE and UAE-HE presented the highest concentration of phenolic compounds (70.92 ± 2.72 and 53.97 ± 2.41 mg.g-1 extract dw, respectively), whereas, for burs and shells, the highest recovery of total phenolic compounds was achieved by using UAE-HE and UAE-W (36.87 ± 1.09 and 23.03 ± 0.26 mg.g-1 extract dw, respectively). Bis-HHDP-glucose isomers, chestanin and gallic acid were among the most abundant compounds. Bur extracts (MAC-HE and UAE-HE) generally presented the highest antioxidant capacity as measured by TBARS, while the best results in DPPH and reducing power assays were found for shell extracts (MAE-W and MAC-HE). Promising antibacterial activity was noticed for the aqueous extracts of burs, leaves and hydroethanolic extracts of shells, with emphasis on the MAE-W extract of burs that showed bactericidal activity against E. cloacae, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus (MBC 5 mg.mL-1). Overall, it can be concluded that chestnut by-products, including burs, shells and leaves, are sources of polyphenolic compounds with significant antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The choice of extraction method and solvent greatly influenced the composition and bioactivity of the extracts. These findings highlight the potential of chestnut by-products for the development of natural additives, particularly for food preservation, while also emphasizing the importance of sustainable utilization of agricultural waste materials. Further research is warranted to optimize extraction techniques and explore additional applications for these valuable bioactive compounds.


Late third molar genesis: its significance in orthodontic treatment.
(1) Third molar genesis may occur up to the age of sixteen years, although the possibility of their appearance after the age of twelve years is reduced. (2) When third molar genesis is delayed beyond the age of ten years, the possibility of all four third molars developing is reduced by about fifty percent. (3) The intraindividual variability in stage of development of third molars increase when genesis is delayed beyond ten years of age. (4) There is no significant difference in size of early and late developing third molars.


Patients with chronic conditions: simulate to educate?
Simulation in healthcare in an way to train professionals but it is not yet use commonly to train patient or their caregivers. Recently, it has been suggested to extend simulations to patients with chronic conditions. Simulations could help patients and caregivers to acquire psychosocial and self-management skills. This approach proved to be effective for the training of healthcare professionals, but its transferability to patients needs to be evaluated. Already, several questions arise. However, by considering simulations as pretexts for debriefing, they enable patients and professionals to assess a concrete situation, implying voluntary and reflexive learning processes. Thus, video recording should be assessed for its role in patient metacognition, defined as knowing about knowing. A taxonomy for simulations dedicated to patients, like that already developed for healthcare professionals, should be considered. Although practical constraints must be identified and addressed, they should not be the primary issue guiding research. The transferability of simulation as an educational technique from professionals to patients and caregivers should be investigated essentially in order to provide a significant benefit to patients.


[Adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer].
Like in colorectal carcinoma stage III (Dukes' C), patients with rectal carcinoma stage II (Dukes' B2) and III (Dukes' C) have a relatively poor prognosis with a 5-year survival chance less than 50%. Adjuvant postoperative irradiation reduces the risk for locoregional relapse to a less extend than preoperative radiotherapy; however, both modalities have only little or no influence on the total disease-free and overall survival. Adjuvant chemotherapy however reduces significantly the risk of distant metastases and--although there is no influence on the risk for locoregional relapse--increases significantly the chance for total disease-free and overall survival. A combination of both modalities, adjuvant systemic chemotherapy and adjuvant postoperative irradiation parallel to the chemotherapy, results not only in a significantly improved disease-free and overall survival but also in a significant decreased locoregional failure rate. Since the local relapse in patients with rectal cancer might cause severe symptoms and a bad quality of life for the patient, the reduction of a locoregional relapse rate by about 50% is of major benefit for the patient who would suffer from relapse. Since the overall toxicity of a combined radio-chemotherapy is not thoroughly increased by modern technique irradiation, the combined radio-chemotherapy using 45-54 Gy, multiple field technique and 5-FU bolus single agent chemotherapy is currently regarded the adjuvant treatment of choice for patients with stage-II and stage-III rectal carcinoma. Further improvement has been demonstrated by a continuous infusion of 5-FU concurrent to the irradiation with a significant decreased locoregional as well as distant failure rate and significant increased survival rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


The Effect of Viola Odorata L. Oil for Fever in Children: A Randomized Triple-blinded Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial.
Finding non-systemic antipyretic option in cancer patients who simultaneously receive several other drugs seems be logical. This study was designed to evaluate complementary therapy with Viola odorata L. oil for fever control in febrile neutropenic children. In a randomized placebo controlled clinical trial, 41 febrile children were divided into two groups. Children in the active drug group received viola oil (20 drops) to be rubbed on the peripheral margin of the patient umbilicus. Primary outcome measure of the study was the mean axillary temperature in the 30, 60, and 240 minutes after the intervention. The mean temperature reduced significantly in the viola group after 30 minutes of administration (p =0.005), while there was no significant change in the placebo group (p =1.00). The number of patients who received paracetamol as the rescue treatment was significantly lower in the viola group than that in the placebo group (5 vs. 17, p =0.001). The results of our study showed the safety and efficacy of complementary therapy with Viola odorata L. oil for fever control in febrile neutropenic children during hospital course.


Comparison of four active and passive sampling techniques for pesticides in air.
Four sampling systems were evaluated for their ability to determine the concentrations of pesticides in the atmosphere of rural southern Ontario. Two active air samplers (AAS, high-volume and low-volume pumps) and two passive air samplers (PAS, polyurethane foam disks and XAD-resin) were deployed between March 2006 and September 2007 using different sampling frequencies (biweekly to annually) and durations (24 h to 1 yr). Concentrations of nine pesticides in air determined by the different systems were compared at time scales of two weeks, two months, and one year. Agreement in the average concentrations obtained by different techniques improved with increasing length of the comparison period, especially for pesticides with high short-term temporal concentration variability. Such variability was high for the most volatile and reactive pesticides (trifluralin and pendimethalin). Except for these two pesticides, the annually averaged air concentrations determined by the different systems are within a factor of 2.5 for all pesticides and are not statistically different. Even though the PUF-PAS may have approached equilibrium with the atmosphere during deployment, the air concentrations are not statistically significantly different from those determined by AAS when averaged over longer time scales. Two month XAD-PAS deployments during the second summer resulted in sufficient sampling volumes to reliably establish air concentrations. If the sole purpose of collecting air samples is the assessment of long-term air concentration trends, this can be achieved most cost-effectively, i.e., with the least number of samples with year-long XAD-PAS.


Microfluidic technologies for synthetic biology.
Microfluidic technologies have shown powerful abilities for reducing cost, time, and labor, and at the same time, for increasing accuracy, throughput, and performance in the analysis of biological and biochemical samples compared with the conventional, macroscale instruments. Synthetic biology is an emerging field of biology and has drawn much attraction due to its potential to create novel, functional biological parts and systems for special purposes. Since it is believed that the development of synthetic biology can be accelerated through the use of microfluidic technology, in this review work we focus our discussion on the latest microfluidic technologies that can provide unprecedented means in synthetic biology for dynamic profiling of gene expression/regulation with high resolution, highly sensitive on-chip and off-chip detection of metabolites, and whole-cell analysis.


Preceptorship planning is essential to perioperative nursing retention: matching teaching and learning styles.
Current nursing shortages along with unsuccessful nursing orientation programs have been a major concern for the past decade because they result in poor retention, reduced quality of patient care, decreased job satisfaction and high financial costs to the organization. Specialty areas, such as the Operating Room (OR), are even more vulnerable due to the stressful working environment and critical care skill set. It has been estimated that approximately 35-65% of new graduates will leave their work place within the first year of employment, lending to the 55% nursing turnover rate. The cost of orientating a new nurse to the perioperative role is estimated to cost between $50,000 and $59,000 U.S. Thus, it is imperative to improve the orientation experience for both new and senior perioperative nurses. Matching preceptor/preceptee learning styles is one way to enhance job satisfaction levels. This paper revisits the literature on preceptorship and provides suggestions on how to enhance existing orientation programs.


Synthesis and antitussive evaluation of verticinone-cholic acid salt, a novel and potential cough therapeutic agent.
To seek a novel and potent antitussive drug based on Shedan-Chuanbei powder, a complex of traditional Chinese medicine preparation for cough therapy. Verticinone-cholic acid (Ver-CA) salt, a novel, salifying derivative of verticinone and cholic acid, both of which are the major bioactive components in Shedan-Chuanbei powder, was synthesized. We then evaluated the antitussive activity and the acute toxicity of the salt. The new compound, with good solubility in water, has much more potent antitussive activity in comparison with the same dose of single verticinone and single cholic acid. The administration 3 mg/kg of Ver-CA could result in over 50% reduction of a citric acid-induced cough. Pretreatment with naloxone (0.8 mg/kg, ip) can only partially antagonize its antitussive effect. On the other hand, glybenclamide (3 mg/kg, ip), an ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker, can also significantly reduce the antitussive effect of Ver-CA. A further acute toxicity study showed that the LD(50) values of Ver-CA were 3 times that of verticinone. Based on the studies of pharmacology and acute toxicity, the salt has a synergic and attenuated toxicity compared with single verticinone and cholic acid. Moreover, the present study also suggests that Ver-CA, a potential novel antitussive agent, may exert its antitussive effect via both the peripheral (modulated by ATP-sensitive K+ channels) and central mechanisms (modulated by the opioid receptor).


Carrier sheet density constrained anomalous current saturation of graphene field effect transistors: kinks and negative differential resistances.
There has recently been a great deal of interest and excitement in applying graphene field effect transistors (GFETs) in digital and radio frequency (RF) circuits and systems. Peculiar output characteristics such as kinks and negative differential resistance (NDR) in a strong field are the unique transport properties of GFETs. Here we demonstrate that these unusual features are attributed to a carrier sheet density constrained transport framework. Simulation results based on a simple analytic model which includes the linear DOS structure are in very good agreement with experimental data. The kernel mechanism of NDR is ascribed to the fact that the total current increase of a channel with a high average carrier density is constrained by its minimum sheet density. Utilizing in situ Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM), the principle which naturally distinguishes NDR from kinks is further verified by studying the spatially resolved surface potential distribution along the channel. The influence and potential application of GFETs' unique output characteristics in the digital and RF fields are also proposed.


Which exercise test to use for chest pain from an anomalous coronary artery.
Chest pain in children and young people is a frequent cause of contact to general practitioners and outpatient clinics. However, in children, chest pain is typically benign and self-limiting; it is not usually a manifestation of organic disease, and it is very rarely of cardiac origin. The cause of chest pain often remains undiagnosed. There are a number of chronic conditions known to be associated with recurrent chest pain. Symptoms and signs include crushing left-sided precordial pain, pain radiating to the left arm or the jaw, pain onset with exercise and subsiding at rest (with asthma excluded), and an abnormal cardiovascular examination suggests referral for cardiac evaluation. We here report a case of stable angina pectoris in the young.


Is implementation of ASAM-based addiction treatment assessments associated with improved 30-day retention and substance use?
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria were developed to provide a systematic, evidence-based, and transparent approach to addiction treatment assessment and level-of-care recommendations. In 2017, California began a Medicaid demonstration that required that providers in participating counties to adopt ASAM-based intake assessments and level-of-care criteria. We hypothesized that ASAM implementation would increase the proportion of patients retained in addiction treatment and successfully completing their treatment plan. We implemented a comparative interrupted time series analysis with 407,792 treatment episodes by Medicaid beneficiaries in specialty addiction treatment settings from 2015 to mid-2019. We compared the change in retention rates and successful completion rates in counties that adopted ASAM-based assessments relative to counties that did not adopt ASAM-based assessments and used only clinical judgment for level-of-care decisions. Treatment retention was defined as staying in addiction treatment for at least 30 days. Successful completion of the treatment plan was determined by the patient's clinician. After one year, ASAM implementation was associated with a 9% increase in 30-day retention among treatment episodes that started in a residential setting, but no change in retention among episodes starting in outpatient settings. We found no statistically significant association between ASAM adoption and successful treatment completion. Implementation of ASAM-based assessment may lead to improved retention for individuals who begin treatment in residential treatment, which may be encouraging to the many state Medicaid programs that are adopting ASAM-based criteria. More research is needed to clarify the mechanism by which ASAM leads to improved outcomes and to clarify how to maximize the potential benefits of ASAM, such as through patient-centered implementation.


Parental attitudes to out-of-home placement of young children with developmental disabilities.
The study tested the research construct that parental inclination to apply for out-of-home placement for their young children with developmental disabilities (up to 5 years) was a function of their stress levels, sense of coherence, and social support received from formal and informal resources. Sixty-one parents (out of 80) of children diagnosed as developmentally disabled in the central western part of Israel participated in the study. The construct above was confirmed, as the sense of coherence and informal social support moderated the levels of stress and parental consideration of out-of-home placement for the young child. In brief, parents that favoured raising their developmentally disabled children at home had high levels of sense of coherence and a strong informal support system. Findings are interpreted with respect to practice and previous research.


A Novel Method of Determining Acetabular Component Size to Guide Explant in Revision Hip Arthroplasty.
Revision hip arthroplasty is a frequently performed procedure and is projected to increase annually. Removal of a well-fixed acetabular component can involve loss of much needed bone stock. Contemporary instruments allow acetabular removal with minimal morbidity; however, their use requires accurate knowledge of the component size. We describe a technique that allows sizing to be determined accurately, without specialized equipment, in situations where component details are unavailable. Our technique multiplies ratio of head:cup on pre-operative X-ray by the diameter of the index femoral head which is removed intra-operatively to predict index cup size. This novel surgical technique appears accurate in prediction of cup size to guide explant in revision hip arthroplasty.


Sinus floor augmentation technique and simultaneous implant placement, part II: the 2-stage approach.
The 1-stage osteotome sinus floor augmentation and simultaneous implant placement technique has been previously reported as a simple solution to heighten the maxillary posterior region to nearly 5- to 6-mm bone height. In this report, a patient with initial bone height of 2 to 3 mm in the extracted site of #3 was treated with the 2-stage osteotome technique. In the first stage, the sinus floor was grafted and augmented up to 5 to 6 mm. In the second stage, 9 months later, the same area was regrafted and the implant was placed. Eight months after the second stage, radiographs showed the entire 10-mm length of the implant was covered with new bone and the implant was solid and functional.


Cross-Sectional Imaging for Inflammatory Arthropathy of the Pelvis.
Inflammatory arthropathy predominantly affecting the axial skeleton can cause pain, stiffness, disability, and ankylosis. This article discusses the use of cross-sectional imaging in the domain of inflammatory pelvic and axial arthropathy highlighting the key distinguishing features of common known diseases and their differential diagnoses.


Skeletal muscle fibre types, physical performance, physical activity and attitude to physical activity in women and men. A follow-up from age 16 to 27.
Fifty-five men and 28 women were tested at age 16 and retested at age 27. Muscle biopsies were taken from m. vastus lateralis to analyse fibre types, fibre areas and enzyme contents. A cycle ergometer test to was used to estimate the maximal oxygen uptake. Physical performance was assessed in an endurance test, where the subjects had to run as far as possible in 9 min on a 400-m track, and in three strength tests designed to test maximal dynamic strength (Sargent jump) and maximal static strength (handgrip test, two-hand lift). The subjects answered a questionnaire concerning physical activity during their leisure time and an activity index was calculated from the answers. The relative proportion of type I fibres (type I%) tended to increase with age in women and decreased in men. At age 27, the type I% was higher in women than in men. Multiple regression analysis indicated that sex per se could explain some of the interindividual variation in the type I% at age 27 and in the changes with age in the type I%, but also factors as physical activity (increase in type I%) and smoking (decrease in type I%) probably contributed to the variation. VO2max (ml.kg-1.min-1) increased with age in women and was unchanged in men so that there was no significant sex difference in VO2max at age 27. Running performance remained unchanged from age 16 to age 27 in both sexes and men performed better than women at both ages. Running performance was directly related to the type I% for both women and men at age 27, a relationship which existed also for men at age 16, but not for women at that age. It seems that the age related changes in relationship between running performance and type I% may be related to the altered choice of physical activity from speed and strength to more endurance demanding activities and the increased VO2max in the women. This may allow an adaptation of the skeletal muscle towards type I fibres in the active ones. The sex differences in strength increased from age 16 to age 27. The relationship between strength and the type II% in the women changed with age from a positive correlation (Sargent jump only, partiell correlation after body dimensions were considered) to negative correlations for all the strength tests, i.e. the more type I fibres the stronger. A positive correlation between strength and activity index was revealed in the women at both ages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


[Current topics in vascular disorders].
Much evidences have been accumulated that antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), especially anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and lupus anticoagulant (LA), were associated with thromboembolism, recurrent fetal loss and thrombocytopenia. These patients with clinical manifestations and aPL are classified into antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Patients with APS without known well-defined autoimmune diseases are assigned to primary APS. aCL found in sera from patients with the APS recognize epitope(s) on beta 2-glycoprotein I bound to cardiolipin. LA is bound to the complex of prothrombin and anionic phospholipids. Patients with APS can be treated by low dose aspirin, warfarin or heparin. A few patients with aPL develop an acute and multiple organ involvements of APS. These patients are designated as catastrophic APS and are treated intensively by corticosteroid, immunosuppression, plasmapheresis or streptokinase.


Hyperthermia increases the susceptibility of chondro- and osteosarcoma cells to natural killer cell-mediated lysis.
As an adjuvant to chemotherapy hyperthermia has proven to be successful as a treatment for osteo- and chondrosarcoma patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether hyperthermia could increase cellular expression of heat-shock-protein 72 in human osteo- and chondrosarcoma cells and how heat treatment would affect their susceptibility to natural killer cell (NK-cell)-mediated lysis. About 5-10% of the peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMC) in the human peripheral blood are natural killer cells (NK-cells). Natural cytotoxicity, mediated by NK-cells, is believed to play an important role in host defense against cancer. The exact mechanisms of recognition of target cells and subsequent NK-cell activation are not yet known. NK-cells, isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy donors, were enriched by magnetic cell-separation to a purity of 85-97%, assessed by FACS-analysis. The susceptibility of heat-treated (42.5 degrees C, 90 minutes) and untreated osteosarcoma (MG63) and chondrosarcoma (HTB94) cell lines to NK-killing was determined by a release assay of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Lysis by NK-cells was increased by heat treatment of the target cells from 16.6% + 4.5% to 33% + 15%, p=0.035, for osteosarcoma cells, (E/T ratio of 5:1) and from 13.7% + 3.1% to 27.9% + 16.9%, p=0.021, (E/T ratio of 20:1) for chondrosarcoma cells. An increased expression of HSP72 of chondro- and osteosarcoma cells after heat treatment was detected by the Western blot technique. The results of this study show that hyperthermia increases HSP72 expression in osteo- and chondrosarcoma cells and their susceptibility to NK-cell-mediated lysis. These findings may lead to new therapeutic strategies, using hyperthermia to improve immunological defense against chondro- and osteosarcoma cells.


Selective separation and determination of glucocorticoids in cosmetics using dual-template magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers and HPLC.
Molecularly imprinting polymers (MIPs) are typically prepared using a single template molecule, which allows selective separation and enrichment of only one target analyte. It is not suitable for determination of complex real samples containing multiple analytes. In order to expand the practical application of imprinted polymers, novel dual-template magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) were synthesized by surface polymerization using hydrocortisone and dexamethasone as the dual-template molecules in this study. The dual-template MMIPs were prepared by copolymerization on the surface of Fe3O4@ SiO2-NH2, the template molecules, the functional monomer acrylamide (AM), the cross-linking agent ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and the initiator 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile. The morphology, magnetic properties and adsorption characteristics of the obtained dual-template MMIPs were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometry, and re-binding experiments. The results indicated that dual-template MMIPs had uniform particle size, strong magnetic properties, high thermal stability, and good mass transfer rate. To investigate the selectivity of dual-template MMIPs, the template molecules were mixed along with their structural analogs. The dual-template MMIPs revealed a significantly higher adsorption amount for the template molecule than its structure analog. The dual-template MMIPs can be used for the enrichment and determination of hydrocortisone and dexamethasone in cosmetic products with the recoveries of spiked cosmetic samples ranging from 86.8-107.5% and 91.2-104.3%, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for hydrocortisone was <2.89%, and RSD for dexamethasone was <2.62%.